Outlet box mounting strip



Filed Feb.

2 Sheets-Sheet s o s fts s 9 0 e /6 Inventor .D .E Richardson :1 Iforney April 12, 1932. D. E. RICHARDSON OUTLET BOX MOUNTING STRIP Filed Feb. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A itorney Patented Apr. 12, 1932 DELBERT E. RICHARDSON, OF ROUND LAKE, ILLINOIS OUTLET BOX MOUNTING STRIP Application filed February 25, 1929. Serial No. 342,545.

This invention "appertains to outlet boxes, switch boxes and the like and more particularly to novel means for mounting variousoutlet boxes on various kinds of composition wall boards, plaster boards and the like, and

plaster walls in some cases, for example, plaster on metal lath.

' One of the primary objects of my invention is the provision of a novel strip for holding various kinds of outlet boxes on the wall and ceiling of completed buildings, the construction of the strip being such as to permit the wall boards or other material to be put in place before cutting out openings for the boxes, thereby eliminating waste by rough cutting and misfit made by the workman putting in the wall board and the saving of time and labor incident thereto.

Another important objectof the invention 99 is the provision of a novel stripfor holding one or more outlet or switch boxes in place which will insure a heater and more uniform job and which will act as means to strengthen the material on which the boxes are used.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel device for connecting switch boxes and the like to wall boards of the above character, which will be durable and efiicient in use, one that will be simple 39 and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating the novel mounting strip in use and showing the same employed for holding a gang of switch boxes in place,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation showing the novel strip in place and holding a gang of switch boxes in position,

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the novel'mounting plates priorto the folding and punching thereof,

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of a template for facilitating the marking of the wall board for reception of a single switch a or outlet box, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse section through one of the novel mounting strips showing the same in itsfolded condition, holes punched and tapped for the reception 00 of a holding screw, the holding screw being shown in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several to views, the letter A generally indicates my novel mounting strip and B a gang of switch boxes arranged in an opening lOformed in the Wall or plaster board 11. 1

In the present instance I have shown the 7 mounting strip employed in connection with a gang of four'switch boxes but it is to be understood that strips can be utilized for holding one or more boxes of the switch outlet.

Referring to the novel mounting strip A, the same is preferably formed from a length of sheet metal 15 of the desired gauge having formed on one longitudinal edge thereof laterally extending tongues 16. so

The strip 15 is bent back upon itself along a longitudinal center line to provide a pair of plies 17 and 18 for rendering the strip strong and rigid in use. In order to further strengthen the strip, the same at the point 8:, of folding or connection of the plies 17 and 18 is rolled to provide a head 19.

After the strip is folded, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the same is punched and tapped at an appropriate point to provide threaded openings 20 for the reception of fastening screws as will be later described. The holes are preferably punched with a pointed tool to form a depressed or concaved rim 21 around the opening into which a screw will readily find its way, the formation of the opening also allowing more surface or thread and causes a locking effect on the thread of the screw thus helping to prevent stripping of threads.

This completes the formation of the strip and the same is ready for use. In holding the switch or outlet boxes in place a strip is used at the bottom and top of the opening cut in the wall and the tongues 16 are bent in a substantially U-shape around the walls of the openin to hold the strip in place without nailing. he' strips are cut accordin to the size and number of boxes to be he (1 in place and after the strips are placed in position, the holding brackets 22 of the switch boxes B are connected to the boxes and adjusted to aline the openings therein with the threaded openings 20 in the strips.

Fastening screws 23, are now threaded through the openings in the brackets 22 and threaded through the wall board and into the openings 20. This will effectively hold the boxes in position and the strip engaging the inner face of the wall board strengthen the same and positively prevent movement and displacement of the boxes.

In Figiure 5 I have illustrated a template.

for mar ing the opening and screw holes to be cut in a wall board for one electric switch outlet box. The openings 24 in the template may be so placed that the right hand line marked for asingle box can be seen through the same and then by marking through the holes 25 and 26 in the template on the wall board and around the ri ht hand side, top and bottom of the temp ate, the ri ht sized hole to be cut will be had.

y continuing this procedure the sized openings for any number of boxes may be marked out accurately.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided an exceptionall simple and durable device that will consid erably facilitate the placing of switch and outlet boxes securely in position. Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention, but:

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new is:

1. A mounting strip for the purpose specified comprising an elongated plate folded longitudinally and having its folded portions contacting one with the other, longitudinally spaced tongues integral with one edge of the plate, and respectively extending therefrom at rightangles to the folded portions of the plate, the free end of each of said tongues terminating in spaced parallel relation to said portions.

2. An outlet box mounting strip comprising an elongated plate bent longitudinally upon itself to provide parallel portions contacting one with the other, said plate at the connected edges of said portions being pro vided with a strengthening bead, and said plate adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced integral tongues respectively having their free ends arranged in spaced aral elism to the folded rtion of the p ate.

3. A mounting strip or outlet boxes comprising an elongated plate bolted longitudinally upon itself to provide a pair of opposite portions attached one with the other, each of said portions being rovided with longitudinall spaced threa ed 0 enings, each of whic openings is provide with a concave rim projectin laterally with respect to the strip, and the rims of the openings on one of the strip rtions being telescoped within the rimmecl dpenin on the other of said strip portions, and sai plate at the connected e ges of said portions being provided with a stren henin bead, and said plate adjacent one ongitu inal ed e thereof 'being also provided with a plurality of relatively spaced angular tongues.

- In testimon whereof I aflix my signature.

DEL ERT E. RICHARDSON. 

